I'm Matt Benson, a Florida-based graphic designer and photographer who enjoys going outside and writing about it. This is where I document those adventures.
Jenny and I journey through the Middle Ocklawaha River, uncovering Florida’s wild beauty and the history that lingers around every bend. Paddling its waters becomes a lesson in surrender—moving with the river’s rhythm as it carries echoes of the past.
Read MoreMy plan to visit Ray Wayside Park was a failure. Instead I became enchanted by the Eureka Bridge, lost in its many kept secrets and stories available only to those who pause and listen. This post is a reflection on the Eureka Bridge and the many structures of the Ocklawaha River.
Read MoreI followed the Ocklawaha River from State Road 19 in Palatka, Florida, to the County Road 316 Bridge in Eureka, tracing the route of the long abandoned Cross Florida Barge Canal project. This is the first in what I hope becomes a series dedicated to the Ocklawaha River.
Read MoreI spent two days camping in the Florida Everglades with my Fuji X100V.
Read MoreWe kayak camped along the Ocklawaha River in a storm while sick.
Read MoreI made a video about being present, Alex and I went camping for the first time since 2019, and Zion turned one year old!
Read MoreEverything you need to know to camp in the Juniper Prairie Wilderness area of the Ocala National Forest, including parking information and trailheads, camping locations and helpful resources.
Read MoreAlex and I kayaked to the La Chua Trail observation deck in Paynes Prairie Preserve and camped in a storm.
Read MoreHere is a list of my top ten favorite things to bring into the woods. Some are practical, others just fun. There is no particular order. It’s just ten things. That I like. Out of order. Here we go.
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